Garfield #31

Day 8 of my Thanksgiving reads is my last Garfield book of the lot. When I went looking for Turkey Day books, I found 3 starring everybody's favorite fat cat. 

In this issue, while Jon makes his favorite turkey lasagna for Thanksgiving dinner, Garfield decides to share his thankfulness with the homeless felines down at the train tracks. Inspired by some Thanksgiving cheer, Garfield decides to help his down and out kitty comrades find forever homes.

Then the world's cutest kitten, Nermal, decides to live life like Garfield. That means making a gigantic sandwich, eating it in bed and reading a scary book. Thanks to the massive tummy ache, Nermal dreams that he's Little Red Riding Hood. Only, he keeps getting put in the wrong fairy tale!

My heart just melted in the Thanksgiving set tale. If case you remember, during day one of my Thanksgiving reads, I read another Garfield comic. In that book, there was a story about a cat whom nobody knew his name. Well, in the holiday story, that same kitty is in this story and his name is Benji! Well, it was Benji. I think his new owner calls him Fluffer-nutter or something to that effect.

I hate to see kitties in need. I'd adopt a hundred pusses if I had the room and money. I loved seeing these poor felines finding new homes thanks to Garfield's efforts.

This was a great issue. I even liked the Nermal solo story. That's big because I used to hate Nermal with a passion. I guess over time he's grown on me. There wasn't enough Thanksgiving in this story as even the main tale it seemed that T-Day was more of an afterthought. But this was a very enjoyable read. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Garfield #19

It's time for more Thanksgiving fun with everybody's favorite fat cat Garfield!

In this issue, Garfield, Odie, Jon and Liz head off to the annual Thanksgiving parade. Jon remembers as a kid seeing giant balloons of Santa and other fun characters. There are balloons at this parade too. But they're all of things for sale at the local mercantile center. You know, fun stuff like blenders, tires and mayo! 

This blatant commercialism causes Jon to mourn for his lost childhood and be in a funk all year long. Now another Thanksgiving is upon us and it's time for another parade is upon us. Jon's nieces have come to visit and go to the parade. But Jon just isn't in the mood. Can Garfield help his owner recapture his missing Thanksgiving spirit?

In the backup feature, the world's cutest kitten, Nermal, comes to visit. Garfield and Odie decide to stay up late and watch a zombie movie with him. Jon puts the kibosh on the film, citing it'll give the pets nightmares; which of course it does. Can Garfield and friends survive the night of the living meatballs?

Though story #2 is more of a Halloween story, the Thanksgiving Day fun doesn't stop. There's 2 classic turkey themed reprints of Garfield Sunday funnies. Plus there's 2 essay type shorts: one about Garfield's love of Thanksgiving and the other is a sort of top 10 list. They were all enjoyable and brief.

The Thanksgiving stuff was all quite nice. But I was nonplussed about the zombie meatball story. It was too corny and reminded me of Jim Davis' less funny 90s oddball stuff. Having Mark Evanier craft that Thanksgiving story helps too. I've been a fan of his since his days as Kirby's assistant during the King's time at DC in the 70s.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Garfield #7

I'm in such a great holiday mood that I can't wait for the Turkey Day fun to start! So I went online to a favorite online comic book shop and I bought some Thanksgiving themed books. I've got 10! Thus last night was my first holiday themed read!

I started thing off with Garfield #7. The cover obviously isn't holiday themed. (To be fair- the variant cover was but it wasn't available for sale.) And the first story has nothing to do with the fourth Thursday in November. But the second story took place during Thanksgiving! So I'll just ease into the holidays with this one...

In the first story, a adorable alley cat ponders just why is Garfield so popular while he's got to fend for himself in the trash. Could it be because Garfield sleeps all the time? Maybe because he puts competitive eaters too shame? No matter what, this precious puddy tat is going to get to the bottom of this quandary!

Story two, the Thanksgiving themed tale, has Garfield eating himself into a food coma. As a result, the fat cat dreams that it's Turkey Day everyday. Things seem like a dream that is until Garfield runs across his evil twin double. Now it's a nightmare as a group of hungry gobblers have put cat on the Thanksgiving menu.

Both stories were rather clever. Mark Evanier (New Gods) doesn't take himself quite so seriously in the writing duties. Which is a good thing. Because I've really felt that Garfield creator Jim Davis has really gotten dull with his Sunday funnies. Maybe Davis needs to put Evanier in charge from now on?

That alley cat story was a little sad. Mostly because everybody notices the little fella. But nobody knows his name. Being nameless and alone was just so heartbreaking to me. So I've decided that his name is Mervin! And if Mervin came to my front door, I'd adopt him in a heartbeat. (Having 6 cats already be darned!)

A great gradual entry into Thanksgiving.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Garfield: TV or Not TV? (Family Comic Friday)

Well, we made it through Halloween. But before we jump right into November, we’ve got one more Halloween treat to review. From the mind of Jim Davis, we’ll be taking a look at KaBoom’s newest special starring the world’s laziest cat. It’s Garfield: TV or Not TV?

Garfield: TV or Not TV
Written by Mark Evanier, Scott Nickel
Art by David Alvarez, Antonio Alfaro
Cover by Andy Hirsch
Published by KaBoom!

There are two episodes to this one-shot. I call the stories 'episodes’ as there is a very episodic feel to this comic book. The spirit of the stories is very much in the vein of the Garfield and Friends cartoon from the Saturday mornings of the 80s; especially the Mark Evanier yarn.

Evanier pens the title tale. It has the Arbuckle household going to Hollywood to star in a reality series. The TV producer reminds me a lot of Binky, a deranged clown that would scare the bejeezus out of Garfield on cartoon series. Mark Evanier adds a touch of intelligent charm to this story. It's actually one of the few in which Jon isn't a complete buffoon.

Unfortunately, Nermal, the world's most annoying cat was added to the mix. I'd rather have more Odie or Liz than Nermal. His presence literally adds nothing to the story. Plus, there's not enough of Garfield berating the little gray snot. It's basically the only thing that makes Nermal's presence tolerable in a Garfield narrative.

The back up feature thankfully drops Nermal and adds Liz and more Odie to the plot. This Scott Nickel adventure is set during Halloween. Jon is hosting a costume party. During set up, lightning hits the TV, causing a monster to escape into the real world.      Of course hijinks ensues as people think that the monster is just a decoration. But Garfield and Odie know the truth!

While this was a funny story, it also features a scary looking character. Garfield has not been shy to use some intense imagery. 1984’s Garfield: His 9 Lives had a controversial short in which Garfield becomes possessed by a cat demon and attacks his owner. True, the monster in this special isn't as scary as that. But it still might be a little eerie for younger readers.

Kaboom really did a nice job on this one. Previous Garfield comics have been hit or miss. Either the plots are too silly or the art looks nothing like the Jim Davis brand. TV or Not TV? excels in both regards.

I know that I'm a couple of days too late reviewing this book in time for Halloween. But only one of the capers in this book is set during the holiday. So consider this a Fall special that can still be enjoyed during this time of year.

People read Bunnicula year round and it's set at Halloween. So are several episodes of Stranger Things. Yet I don't hear fans complain that they can only enjoy the show during the month of October. Besides, any comic book store worth its salt is not going to pack up this book until next year’s fright fest. Though this book dropped two weeks ago, TV or Not TV? is still going to be available on store shelves this weekend.

Plus for you digital lovers, it's currently available on several online comic book sites including Comixology. Although for some reason, it's listed as issue #2 on the site. Everywhere else I look, this title is listed as issue #1.

TV or Not TV? was an enjoyable read that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Though you may want to wait until the young reader in your life is maybe 7 or older if scary characters aren’t their thing yet. There’s also some moments of slapstick but the violence level is a lot tamer than the Three Stooges. Overall, it’s got a wholesome charm and it perfect for any Garfield fan!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.

Garfield: The Thing in the Fridge (Family Comic Friday)

Greetings everyone! It's the last Family Comic Friday before Halloween. For today's post, I've chosen a book starring a character that for the last 40 years has become so synonymous with a certain day of the week that he sparked the saying 'I hate Mondays!' That's right- it's Garfield.

Garfield: The Thing in the Fridge is an original graphic novel from the Boom Studios imprint Kaboom! This is the third such publication from Boom based on the beloved comic strip by Jim Davis. All your favorites including Jon, Odie, Liz, and even Nermal are on hand in this treasury of three all-new tales.

In the title story, Garfield is having trouble getting to sleep. So he and Odie decide to watch the late night monster feature on TV in hopes of dozing off. When that doesn't work, the pair head off to the kitchen in hopes of raiding the fridge for a late night snack. But it's gonna be hard getting in there when it just so happens that a monster has taken up residence in the Arbuckle Frigidaire. 

Story #2, The Early Jon Arcbuckle has the constantly late owner of Garfield seeking help from a scientist who claims he can make Jon always be on time from now on. Things seem to be going smoothly, until Jon starts to overdo it, like buying all his Christmas shopping early- for the next seven years! Can Garfield and Odie get their own back on time before it's too late?

Lastly, in Only Human, Garfield awakes to find himself somehow turned human. It appears that becoming a real boy has caused the former fat cat to work up a man sized appetite. Dressed in Jon's clothing with his owner's credit card and a reservation to his favorite Italian eatery, it looks like becoming a human being is a piece of cake. What could go wrong? Believe me when I say lots!

Over the past few years Garfield has gotten a bit of a bad rap. Many critics state that the decades old comic strip has gone flat over the years. What was perfect for 1980s Sunday Comics just haven't translated well over the past decade or so. 

A large part of this problem has been from creator Jim Davis. He's stated over the years in interviews that Garfield wasn't even meant to be funny. But it became marketable, so Davis kept doing it. It's really kinda hard to do quality art if your only incentive is money. However, both Scott Nickel (The Incredible Rockhead) and Mark Evanier (Groo The Wanderer) don't seemed to have gotten that memo.

Both writers impart some very clever laughs throughout their stories. I did think the Nickel's first story, The Thing in the Fridge, was about 10 pages too long as it did ramble a bit. But his tale of Garfield turning human was extremely clever. Evanier's episode about Jon always being late started off as a kind of Twilight Zone type tale. I thought Jon was going to become like the Flash and instead he went off into another interesting direction.

For the most part, the artwork was quite good in terms of mimicking Jim Davis' art-style. The first two stories were penciled by Antonio Alfaro and they looked just like Davis would have drawn them for your Sunday paper. The last story, illustrated by Aatmaja Pandya, had an appearance that was nothing like I thought it should. Instead, that tale looked like it was drawn by a 1990's Jr. high school student goofing off on MS Paint during fourth period computer class. 

Overall, Garfield: The Thing in the Fridge was a fun Halloween time read. None of the stories were holiday themed and I would put the fright factor at a level 2 (out of 10.) However, all three stories were kinda weird. So if you choose this as an October read, it would be quite fitting for the time of year. For the most part, kids are going to enjoy it, though some of the back features included featuring comics and other goodies from the 80s might not resonate so well with the young generation.

Garfield: The Thing in the Fridge debuted in stores on October 25th.

Worth Consuming! 

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Lastly, before I go- tomorrow is Halloween Comic Fest. In this annual event, comic book stores nationwide will be giving out a variety of kid friendly comics for free! Don't worry parents and guardians, there's some more grown-up goodies for you as well! Don't know where the festivities are being held in your neck of the woods? Check out the store locator to find an event nearest you!

Article was published concurrently on http://www.outrightgeekery.com.

Rabbids (2015 Free Comic Book Edition) (Family Comic Friday)

 The Rabbids, those lovable rabbit scamps from video and cartoon fame headline this 2015 Free Comic Book collection from Papercutz. The Rabbids are kinda like the Minions of Despicable Me. They have grandiose ideas that often come to terrible but hilarious failures. I laughed out loud several times at their antics. So much that I was actually disappointed that this book wasn’t 100% just about the Rabbids.

    Included in this preview comic is a 3-D animated space adventure starring Garfield and Odie, a Smurfs story that introduces Gargamel’s twin brother, and a very funny yarn starring Ariol, the french donkey schoolboy with a heart of gold and a desperate need to complete his sticker collection.

    All of these series can be found either at bookstores, libraries, or Amazon. I highly recommend all 4 books. But the Rabbids were my favorite. True- they don’t speak but they were so funny. It’s one of the few times I didn’t have a problem with a wordless comic. That’s a major compliment from a rabid comic book fans such as myself.

   Worth Consuming

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Garfield #32 (Family Comic Friday)

Just a few days ago I did a search for the new holiday-themed comics for 2014. The results were disappointing. I couldn't find more than 2 dozen books devoted to the holiday season (that includes books that have holiday or Christmas in the title, as well as any books that stories involve the holidays.)

   If you remove the titles that have variant covers or Christmas covers only (and no holiday content inside), that reduces the number to about a dozen 2014 holiday comics. Then remove the books for teens or adults only, I've only found a total of 8 comics that are rated all ages. Archie is the big winner with 4 titles starring the gang from Riverdale, including a digest-sized collection of Archie's favorite holiday adventures. IDW has issued two holiday specials this year, one starring the Angry Birds and My Little Pony being festive in the next. Dynamite released a book called Lil Vampi's Holiday Special. It's all ages but is based on one of the biggest sexpots in the history of horror comics, Vampirella. (and I do mean BIG with pun intended.)

  Title number 8 is the book I reviewed for this week's Family Comic Friday- Garfield #32. Just like the Peanuts book I reviewed two weeks ago, it's published by Kaboom! (AKA Boom! Studios.) In this issue, we've a pair of stories, one of which is a Christmas tale, along with some festive rides, several really cool looking Garfield pin-ups, and a selection of holiday comic strips by Garfield's creator, Jim Davis. 

     The Christmas story involves Garfield, a wayward elf, named Alvin, and a Christmas miracle. The story, by Mark Evanier, was original, fun, and absolutely heartwarming. It was fantastic. I had zero complaints about this episode, and parents and children of all ages shouldn't either. Just why didn't anybody tell me Jon and Liz were now a couple?

     Normally, it would bother me when a holiday comic isn't 100% about the season between Thanksgiving and New Year's. Technically, Garfield #32 isn't a holiday special. While Christmas plays a large part in this issue, the series itself is a monthly title. It also helps that the second story was very funny. It stars Nermal, the World's Cutest Cat. I 'm not really a fan of Nermal, as I find him to be too syrupy. But instead, the little gray kitten's a little feisty, refusing to play the part of Goldilocks. Enter a slew of ninjas, robots, and mutant bunnies as Nermal tries to update the story of the Three Bears for a modern audience.

     I really enjoyed this comic. I was so impressed with it, that when I read the blurb for the next issue, I found myself adding it to my wish list. When an all-ages comic can grab you like that, you know you've found something special. 

   Garfield is currently available in stores and can be ordered online. 

   Worth Consuming.

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

FCBD 2013 Kaboom Summer Blast!

This 2013 Free Comics Book day offering is full of great short stories featuring an all-star cast- with Snoopy, Regular Show, Jake and Finn from Adventure Time, the cast of Ice Age, Garfield and much, much more.

Adventure Time takes up the most real-estate with a lengthy Choose Your Own Adventure style story. It’s cute, but I just don’t see why people think that’s such a great show. I must be old. The story I enjoyed most is a title I can’t remember, but it involves a little boy with a teddy bear that comes to life. It’s a little like Calvin and Hobbes but with illustrations out of The Snowman. I wish I could remember what it was called.

Anyways, the whole book was lots of fun and I am glad I found this gem at this year’s Free Comic Book Day.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.